EFFECTIVE DATE: 1/01 AUTHORIZED BY: Board of Trustees

POLICY AND PROCEDURE

House of New Hope

POLICY: JFS-2-5-13-A9

TITLE: Good Cause

EFFECTIVE DATE: 1/01 AUTHORIZED BY: Board of Trustees

REVISION DATE: 1/10

House of New Hope recognizes that there are circumstances that might prevent a foster caregiver from successfully completing their required continuing training in accordance with Rule 5101:2-5-33. If the foster caregiver complies with the following “Good Cause Policy,” ODJFS may renew the foster caregiver’s foster home certificate.

Definition:

“Good Cause” may include, but not be limited to, the following conditions or circumstances:

●  Documented medical/psychological illness or condition by the foster caregiver or any member of the family requiring the foster caregivers attention or care;

●  Critical emergencies including, but not limited to, the death of a family member and hospitalization;

●  Military responsibilities

○  The foster caregiver has served in active duty outside Ohio with a branch of the armed forces of the United States for more than thirty days in the preceding two year period

○  The foster caregiver has served in active duty as a member of the Ohio organized militia, as defined in section 5923.01 ORC, which includes the Ohio National Guard, the Ohio Naval Militia and the Ohio military reserve, for more than thirty days in the preceding two-year period and that active duty relates to either an emergency in or outside Ohio or to military duty in or outside of Ohio.

●  Jury duty responsibilities;

●  Lack of accessible/available training programs; or

●  Changes in requirements specified in the Ohio Administrative Code or Ohio Revised Code.

Procedures:

Within ten (10) to fifteen (15) business days of the foster caregiver’s recertification date, when it is apparent that the required continued training requirement will not be successfully met for “Good Cause,” a written request with all necessary documentation must be completed by the foster caregiver and submitted to the Licensing Department.

Prior to requesting recertification of the foster caregiver’s foster home certificate, a representative of the Licensing Department shall meet with said foster caregiver(s) and develop a corrective action plan that provides for the completion of the continuing training in the shortest time span appropriate to the circumstance, but not to exceed 90 days from the date of recertification without the expressed written authorization of the Executive Management Team.

The corrective action plan shall include, but not be limited to:

●  A complete description of the “Good Cause” prompting the need for the continued training extension;

●  The specific training courses, topics and/or training hours that the foster caregiver must complete in order to be compliant with OAC 5101:2-5-13; and

●  A date specified as the deadline for completion of the continued training deficiencies.

The completed and signed corrective action plan must accompany the recommendation for recertification and request for waiver of 5101:2-5-13 (A)(14) when sent/delivered to ODJFS.

Procedures for Recommending Revocation:

In the event that the foster caregiver(s) fail to successfully complete the corrective action plan by the designated deadline and there exists no further “Good Cause,” then the agency shall do the following:

●  If appropriate, the Agency may make a recommendation for a change in foster caregiver licensure to the family foster care or pre-adoptive infant foster care level, assuring that any foster child remaining in or subsequently placed in their home is appropriate to their reduced caregiver certificate; or

●  Immediately remove all foster children from the care of said foster caregiver(s) and inform all relevant placing agencies; and

●  Within five (5) business days, recommend the revocation of the foster home certificate for failure to comply with the corrective action plan.